pectoral

• POS: Adjective, Noun
• HYPHEN: pec=to=ral

CIDE DICTIONARY

pectoral, a. [L. pectoralis, fr. pectus, -oris the breast; cf. F. pectoral.].

•  Of or pertaining to the breast, or chest; as, the pectoral muscles.  [1913 Webster]
•  Relating to, or good for, diseases of the chest or lungs; as, a pectoral remedy.  [1913 Webster]
•  Having the breast conspicuously colored; as, the pectoral sandpiper.  [1913 Webster]

Pectoral arch, or Pectoral girdle (Anat.), the two or more bony or cartilaginous pieces of the vertebrate skeleton to which the fore limbs are articulated; the shoulder girdle. In man it consists of two bones, the scapula and clavicle, on each side. -- Pectoral cross (Eccl.), a cross worn on the breast by bishops and abbots, and sometimes also by canons. -- Pectoral fins, or Pectorals (Zoöl.), fins situated on the sides, behind the gills. See Illust. under Fin. -- Pectoral rail. (Zoöl.) See Land rail (b) under Land. -- Pectoral sandpiper (Zoöl.), the jacksnipe (b).

pectoral, n. [L. pectorale a breastplate, neut. of pectoralis.].

•  A covering or protecting for the breast.  [1913 Webster]
•  A breastplate, esp. that worn by the Jewish high person.  [1913 Webster]
•  A medicine for diseases of the chest organs, especially the lungs.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

pectoral, adj. & n.
--adj.
1 of or relating to the breast or chest; thoracic (pectoral fin; pectoral muscle).
2 worn on the chest (pectoral cross).
--n.
1 (esp. in pl.) a pectoral muscle.
2 a pectoral fin.
3 an ornamental breastplate esp. of a Jewish high priest.

Etymology

ME f. OF f. L pectorale (n.), pectoralis (adj.) f. pectus pectoris breast, chest